Best MacBook Neo deals: Where to buy Apple’s $599 MacBook at the best price
The best MacBook Neo deals of the moment
These are the MacBook Neo recommendations we would confidently give to our own friends and family. They are based on the best prices currently offered by hundreds of Apple product resellers.
Today’s best MacBook Neo deals: United States
- Amazon, MacBook Neo, 512GB: £697, ($2 off, MSRP $699) – It’s only $2 off, but you might get it in the next few days
- Best Buy, MacBook Neo, 256GB: $599 – Plus and Total members receive a $25 bonus reward with purchase, but the wait for delivery is longer.
Today’s best MacBook Neo deals: UK
- KRCS, MacBook Neo, 256GB: £549, (£50 off, RRP £599) You can already save £50, stock is limited so you may have to wait
- Amazon, MacBook Neo, 256GB: £569.90 (£29 off, RRP £599) If you’re a subscriber, it’s hard to beat Amazon, delivery only takes a few days.
- KRCS, MacBook Neo, 512GB: £649, (£50 off, RRP £699) You can already save £50, stock is limited so you may have to wait
The MacBook Neo is Apple’s new entry-level laptop, launching in March 2026 as the most affordable MacBook ever released. Starting at $599, it offers the performance of the A18 Pro, a 13-inch screen, and up to 16 hours of battery life.
If you’re interested in purchasing one, we can help you find the best price. Retailers sometimes offer discounts that can save you money, and we’re constantly tracking all Apple retailers so we always know who’s offering the best price.
In this guide, we round up the best MacBook Neo deals available right now and tell you where to buy one at the lowest price. We also help you decide if the MacBook Neo is right for you and explain which model to choose.
MacBook Neo: at a glance
- A18 Pro chip
- 8 GB of RAM
- 256 GB or 512 GB storage
- 13-inch Liquid Retina display
Is the MacBook Neo worth buying?
Foundry
The MacBook Neo is ideal if you want the cheapest MacBook possible while still benefiting from Apple’s macOS.
Reasons to buy
- Affordable price
- Long battery life
- Lightweight design
Reasons to jump
- Limited RAM options
- Fewer ports
- Less powerful than the MacBook Air
People are attracted to the MacBook Neo for several main reasons:
Affordability: The main attraction is the revolutionary price level. At $599, it’s $500 cheaper than the current MacBook Air M5. This low entry price makes it a “golden ticket” for those who previously found MacBooks too expensive.
Premium design and build quality: Despite its budget label, the Neo maintains Apple’s high manufacturing standards. It features an all-aluminum chassis with no plastic parts, a rarity for laptops in this price range. As our reviewer noted, it feels just as premium as a MacBook Air, avoiding the “cheap” feel of competing plastic PCs. It also comes in a variety of vibrant colors, including Indigo, Blush (pink), Citrus (yellow-green), and Silver.
Sufficient performance for everyday tasks: Although it uses a mobile-class processor, the efficiency of the A18 Pro allows it to easily handle general productivity. You’ll be able to write documents, create spreadsheets, create presentations, visit websites, check email, manage your calendar, video conference with people, and much more with ease on the MacBook Neo.
Seamless ecosystem integration: For the billions of iPhone users, the Neo offers an inexpensive way to access the Apple ecosystem. It supports native integrations like iPhone Mirroring, Universal Clipboard, and iCloud sync. It allows users to go “all in” on Apple – combining a Neo, iPhone 17e and Apple Watch SE – for a significantly lower total cost than in previous years.
Portability and battery life: At 2.7 pounds and 0.50 inches thick, the Neo is very portable. Although its battery life is less than that of the Air or Pro models, it still offers up to 16 hours of video streaming or 11 hours of wireless web browsing, which is enough for a full day of school or general work.
Who should buy the MacBook Neo
- Students and schools: The $499 educational price makes it a direct competitor to Chromebooks in the K-12 and college markets.
- First-time Mac buyers: It serves as an affordable “gateway” for iPhone users who want seamless integration (iCloud, AirDrop, iMessage) without spending more than $1,000.
- Occasional users: Grandparents or anyone whose primary activities are web browsing, social media, and video calls.
- Secondary device owners: Business users who want a lightweight, inexpensive laptop for travel or vacation.
Which MacBook Neo model should you buy? (256 GB versus 512 GB)
Foundry
The base model at $599
- Includes 256 GB of storage
- Lack of Touch ID
- Ideal for students and light use
The $699 model:
- Includes 512 GB of storage
- Adds Touch ID
- Better for storage-hungry users
Our recommendation: The 512GB MacBook Neo is the best buy for most people thanks to Touch ID and additional storage.
Limitations of the MacBook Neo
What features are missing on the MacBook Neo?
- No MagSafe charging
- No Thunderbolt port
- Base model without Touch ID
- No backlit keyboard
Find out what features the MacBook Neo is missing.
Should you buy a MacBook Neo or a MacBook Air?
Eugene Wegmann
The Neo is positioned as Apple’s entry-level MacBook below the MacBook Air.
The 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models were recently updated with the M5 chip. They remain the first choice for most users because they balance performance, battery life, and slim design.
MacBook Neo versus MacBook Air
| Functionality | MacBook Neo | MacBook Air |
|---|---|---|
| Initial price | $599 | $1,099 |
| Chip | A18 Pro | M5 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| SSD | 256 GB | 512 GB |
| Battery | 4 p.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Screen size | 13 inches | 13.6 inches and 15.3 inches |
Also think about:
Best place to buy the MacBook Neo
The obvious place to buy a MacBook Neo is Apple, but it’s not necessarily the best.
One of the benefits of buying from Apple is that you can trade in your old Mac and get some money back. We have an article explaining how to save money with Apple’s trade-in program.
When purchasing directly from Apple, you’ll also get:
- Comprehensive configuration options
- Trade-in discounts
- Student rates
However, Apple rarely offers discounts on Macs, so if you’re looking for the best price, you need to look elsewhere. Our price comparison tables will currently show the best prices for both MacBook Neo models:
Apple, MacBook Neo, 256GB, MSRP: $599/£599
Apple, MacBook Neo, 521GB, MSRP: $699/£699
Where to buy a MacBook Neo
Michael Simon / Foundry
You can buy a MacBook Neo directly from Apple in the US or from Apple UK. You can, however, find a MacBook Neo in stock and at a discount from one of these retailers. There are many Apple Premium stores and resellers around the world that offer discounts on new and old Macs, so it’s worth shopping around (read our Where to Buy a Mac article for more tips).
We also recommend the following resellers:
American retailers
UK retailers
Apple Authorized Resellers in the UK
MacBook Neo Price: What You Should Pay
The MacBook Neo starts at $599/£599, but deals may reduce the price depending on the retailer.
- Introductory price: $599/£599
- Good deal: $549-$579/£549-£579
- Best seasonal deals: By Black Friday in November 2026, we could see prices drop to $529/£529, but we don’t expect them to go lower than that.
MacBook Neo FAQ
FAQs
When was the MacBook Neo released?
What chip does it use?
Why does the MacBook Neo use an iPhone chip?
Apple uses the A18 Pro chip, as first seen in the iPhone 16, for three main reasons:
- Price: Apple’s decision to use an iPhone-class processor in the MacBook Neo – specifically the A18 Pro – represents a strategic shift aimed at creating a high-quality entry-level laptop at a revolutionary price.
- Efficiency: Apple’s A-series chips are designed with the same fundamental architecture as Mac’s M-series chips, making them particularly suited to laptop tasks despite their mobile origins. This efficiency allows the Neo to handle everyday productivity – like web browsing, streaming, and document editing – without the lag typically associated with budget Windows or ChromeOS devices.
- Supply chain: Apple is able to capitalize on existing “economies of scale”. As the chip was previously used in the iPhone 16 Pro, the manufacturing processes are mature and highly optimized and Apple is able to maintain better margins on a low-cost device than its competitors.
The A18 chip is adapted to the market targeted by the MacBook Neo.
What Mac chip is the A18 Pro comparable to?
In our testing of the MacBook Neo, single-core performance was faster than the M3 and almost matched the M4.
In multi-core, it was closer to the M1.
Is it good for students?
Yes, it’s designed as a low-cost, student-friendly Mac. Apple is offering a discounted price of $499/£499 for Education.
Does the MacBook Neo replace the MacBook Air?
No, it is located below the Air in the Apple range.
Is the MacBook Neo worth it?
The MacBook Neo is widely considered to be an exceptional value for some users, particularly students, new Mac buyers, and those with basic computing needs. Starting at $599, it’s the most affordable laptop Apple has ever released, but it maintains a premium all-aluminum design that reviewers say feels like a $1,000 machine.
